Hirchson to be Released from Prison in January

The parole committee of the Prisons Service decided, Thursday, to commute a third of the five-and-a-half-year sentence imposed on former finance minister Avraham Hirchson on his conviction for embezzling from the Histadrut Ha'ovdim Haelumit national workers' federation. As a result, Hirchson will be released at the beginning of next month.

Hirchson's attorney, Rotem Touboul, told Channel 2 Television, "This is a very positive prisoner, who won acclaim and is suitable for early release - according to all the parameters set out in the law." Hirchson, who called his actions "stupid and unethical", insisted at the time of his trial and subsequent denial of his appeal that he did not steal. Media reports say he got closer to religion while behind bars and intends to return to public activity as a volunteer for Holocaust survivors.